Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for an increase in the operating for an increase in the operating referendum<00:21:08.240><c> Levy
• </c> save schools revenue and the operating save schools revenue and the operating referendum<00:27:16.520
• meet its general operating purposes.
• Operating sparsity is essentially saying the district might be smaller than can reasonably operate a
• Operating money is intended to help the school district essentially meet its general operating purposes

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Safety, efficiency, and operations are the fundamental tenets by which we live.
• operations.
• This is critical to safety and operations.
• We operate with a number of state DOTs.
• With large, large, big, global operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funds for other critical operational funds for other critical operational needs<00:37:43.280><c>
• </c><00:37:54.839><c> by</c> to enhance the board's operation by to enhance the board's operation by
• </c> compensation and insurance and oper compensation and insurance and oper other<00:53:10.359><c> operating
• <00:54:25.720><c> appropriation</c> operating appropriation operating appropriation um<00:54:27.880><
• </c> growing personnel and other operating growing personnel and other operating costs<01:04:06.160><

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• and particularly for dairies and livestock operators.
• </c> array of Workforce needs and operational array of Workforce needs and operational challenges<00:
• </c> unique industry they generally operate unique industry they generally operate on<00:46:47.200><c
• </c> particularly for the smallest operations particularly for the smallest operations in<00:49:42.359
• </c> have demands to keep their operations have demands to keep their operations going<01:25:46.679><

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• We just operated a spring. We believe it will be operating a summer.
• We just operated a spring. We believe it will be operating a summer.
• We just operated a spring. We believe it will be operating a summer.
• start operating the program.
• Jen Carver is of operation operations.

Bills: SB8

Committee: Joint Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:47.560><c> higher</c> we are participating in operation higher we are participating in operation
• <00:18:28.280><c> for</c><00:18:28.480><c> hire</c> operation for hire operation for hire doesn't<00:
• That Operation HIRE Hawaii, for Wiki Wiki, so there was a recommendation.
• That Operation HIRE Hawaii, for Wiki Wiki, so there was a recommendation.
• hayen operations manager we have Daniel hayen operations manager for<00:47:01.520><c> Hol</c><00:47:

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• They operate a system and most states use Genax.
• But there's 240 licensed operators across the state.
• than a licensed operator in Oklahoma City, for example.
• I'm really excited about your CDL operations.
• The CDL is such a big operation in Oklahoma.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've currently not had any planned operations, anything like that.
• Of course, State Police does not operate any detention facility.
• We are not engaged in any type of operation like that.
• , or at least we will participate in that operation.
• Operation.

Committee: All ALC-GAME & FISH/STATE POLICE

Summary: The committee first heard from Arkansas State Police leadership about the agency’s role in federal immigration enforcement. Colonel Mike Hager said State Police has completed 287(g) training for all but 12 officers and is authorized to assist ICE in limited circumstances, but is not an immigration enforcement agency. He emphasized that troopers only make immigration-related notifications after lawful stops or arrests for other offenses, and that the agency uses discretion and chain-of-command approval for any planned operation. Members asked about how immigration status is determined, whether stops are tracked, whether local agencies are participating, and whether there are costs or reimbursement mechanisms; Hager said the agency began tracking encounters in September and had 48 detentions since then, most tied to other criminal violations such as DWIs or domestic violence. He also said there were no current planned immigration operations beyond assisting federal partners. The committee then received an update from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Doug Schoenrock on wildlife management areas, waterfowl habitat, and related infrastructure. He reported that most moist-soil units and green tree reservoirs were flooded or near normal, with one new pump not yet operational and a vandalized Ed Gordon/Point Remove pump back in service since December. He also said the Lake Conway dam and water-control work were progressing, with a public meeting scheduled at Mayflower High School. Questions followed about dock removal notices, maintenance on other water-control structures, and a recent fatal boating accident at Baumito WMA, which Schoenrock described as a high-speed collision in flooded timber and said the agency was working on a safety memorial effort with the victim’s widow. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on duck season, drought conditions, and criticism of the Flyway Federation’s push to restrict hunting over standing corn. Schoenrock said Arkansas remains the nation’s top duck-hunting destination, but drought and warm weather have reduced water availability and caused ducks to move north; he cited survey numbers showing 1.4 million ducks in the state at the end of December but a much lower January count. He argued that standing corn is legal and that federal habitat and water policy, not Arkansas law, drives long-term duck populations. Members raised concerns about changing migration patterns, the role of private clubs, federal regulation, and the possible effects of wind turbines and solar panels on waterfowl; Schoenrock and Commissioner Chris Caldwell said the commission is studying those issues, including a University of Arkansas at Monticello project on avoidance behavior, and that no immediate regulatory changes were announced. The committee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will support flood response and general emergency operations.”
• Staff receive the support needed for sustainable operations.
• So I can't talk to the operational impact overall.
• may want to operate.
• may want to operate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also operate a website serving customers nationwide.
• Operators in the Commonwealth are effectively required to do so by law.
• My name is Ralph Santonello, and I own and operate two restaurants in ...
• Some restaurants like mine operate on razor-thin margins, as we've heard.
• We operate in 130 cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

Summary: The commission met to continue studying credit card payments, interchange fees, fraud, chargebacks, and the impact of card processing costs on small businesses, especially restaurants and retailers. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurant owners, payment-industry representatives, and an airline trade group. Supporters of reform argued that swipe fees are a major and rising expense, that businesses are paying fees on sales tax and tips that are merely pass-through amounts, and that merchants have little negotiating power. Several restaurant and retail witnesses described thin margins, higher costs for card-not-present transactions, and chargebacks that they said usually favor cardholders and leave merchants absorbing losses and fees. Witnesses from the Cooperative Credit Union Association cautioned that state-level interchange regulation could reduce revenue used for fraud prevention, compliance, and member services, and could lead to higher rates or reduced access. Retail and restaurant representatives countered that fees have risen sharply, that statements are difficult to decipher, and that rewards programs and card-network pricing are subsidized by merchants and ultimately by all consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association and independent operators urged legislation to bar fees on tax and tip portions of transactions and to allow businesses to pass along card fees if they choose, saying this would improve transparency and fairness and help keep small restaurants open. Other testimony came from the National Restaurant Association, which supported interchange reform and said modern point-of-sale systems can already separate tax and tip amounts, and from a payments-industry group that emphasized the broader economic benefits of digital payments and warned against state-by-state rules. Airlines for America opposed changes that could undermine airline credit card rewards programs. Commission members asked detailed questions about fee structures, card types, chargebacks, POS systems, and whether consumers paying cash are also affected. No votes or formal actions were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• But many of those posts and clubs operate with limited resources.
• We're the operator. We really love an opportunity.
• It allows our existing licensed casino operators, the same institutions...
• That allow them to continue operating in the shadows of the black markets?
• You could see that bond and the respect between the employees, operators, and patrons.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> deficits that we had on the operating deficits that we had on the operating costs<00:21:02.679><
• The cost of operating has certainly gone up, as it has to in order to attract drivers and train operators
• ><c> the</c> count on every year to operate the count on every year to operate the current<00:30:19.360
• So the first of our operating budget items here, operating pressures, we are recommending $22.2 million
• ><c> this</c><01:14:25.280><c> operating</c> budgetary Outlook this operating budgetary Outlook this

Bills: HF5

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy

Transcript Highlights:

• All of these companies can operate just like any other trucking company in the United States.
• Major, how often does DPS encounter trucks operating off the permit?
• Routes are often operated with false documentation.
• These fuel depots—can you give us kind of specific examples, how they pop up, how they operate?
• Document that is issued by the terminal operator, which is also licensed by the IRS.

Bills: SB290 , SB2949

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: LP-gas, property owner notice, natural resources, gas installations, safety notification, motor fuel, fuel transport, fuel export, transloading, export fuel transloading facility, fuel terminal, terminal operator, comptroller, Texas Tax Code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Department of Public Safety, DPS, border security, ports of entry

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're still in operation? We are still operating today, and we would prefer to be operating.
• Lottery courier services currently operate in at least... ...17 states, and jackpot.com operates in all
• Jackpocket has operated legally. compliantly in Texas since 2019.
• Line and Class A misdemeanor to operate a courier service.
• Lottery couriers have never been authorized to operate in the state.

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• that they're safe to be operated at DOE.
• A lot of our commercial reactors operating today are oxide fuels.
• and actually under that commercial operating and where that fuel.
• Yep, it has to have all that in place before you're operating.
• And so that's probably still a combustion unit operation.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• operator.
• that they're safe to be operated at DOE.
• A lot of our commercial reactors operating today are oxide fuels.
• Yep, it has to have all that in place before you're operating.
• And so that's probably still a combustion unit operation.

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the availability of presentation materials, then moved into a series of technical briefings from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent federal and DOE efforts to streamline nuclear regulation for advanced reactors, including NRC Part 53 and upcoming Part 57 rulemaking, DOE authorization updates, crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements, and use of AI to speed licensing communications and document review. He emphasized that the goal is to align safety standards for advanced technologies, reduce rework for developers, and support deployment for commercial, defense, and research uses. In response to questions, he said there is no current plan to merge agencies, but there is more information-sharing and embedded NRC staff at DOE facilities; he also noted public outreach is supported through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, covering uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and recycling. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), DOE’s HALEU Availability Program, and the need to expand domestic enrichment, deconversion, and transportation capacity to support advanced reactors and the 2050 nuclear growth goal. He also reviewed used fuel management, including on-site storage at operating and shutdown reactors, the Center for Used Fuel Research at INL, a high-burnup research cask project, and the long-term repository question, which he said is ultimately political as well as technical. He outlined reprocessing approaches—aqueous/Purex, pyrochemical, and fluoride volatility—describing INL’s work on electrochemical processing of EBR-II fuel and noting industry interest from several companies in recycling technologies. Ashley Shields presented on AI for nuclear applications, describing INL’s use of generative AI, high-performance computing, and digital-twin tools to accelerate reactor design, licensing, operations, and materials development. She highlighted the Prometheus effort to pursue highly automated reactor design and operation, the large documentation burden for reactor licensing, and ongoing work on autonomous control, remote operation, and AI-assisted materials qualification through the Vulcan challenge and related data platforms. In questions, she said AI tools are used under data-governance and security controls, with different models chosen for different tasks, and argued that software engineers and human oversight remain necessary. The session ended with a brief recess announcement and a transition to a later presentation on critical minerals and materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• opt in after being in operation for 25 years.
• only opt in after being in operation for 25 years.
• “Or the operations there would be impacted.
• And we've heard data centers talk about the need to operate 24/7.
• Once operational, data centers provide economic stability in Puyallup.

Bills: HB2521 , HB2249 , HB1796

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: firearms, background check, gun control, public safety, legislation, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service, exempt employees, state employment, state personnel, network security, cybersecurity, information technology, IT contracting, data center, systems integration, network engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• opt in after being in operation for 25 years.
• Or the operations there would be impacted.
• And we've heard data centers talk about the need to operate 24/7.
• And we've heard data centers talk about the need to operate 24/7.
• And we've heard data centers talk about the need to operate 24-7.

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses must pay the B&O tax even though they may not have any profits or may be operating at a loss
• House Bill 2713 imposes a business and occupation tax surcharge on the operators of private detention
• House Bill 2713 imposes a business and occupation tax surcharge on the operators of private detention
• by a private operator, but it is under county oversight.
• Did you say that Martin Hall is actually operated on contract by a nonprofit organization?"

Summary: The House Finance Committee held public hearings on two bills. HB 2730 would clarify how JLARC evaluates the effectiveness of existing aerospace tax preferences by requiring a rolling five-year comparison of Washington aerospace employment with other states and asking JLARC to consider broader aerospace-sector changes and economic conditions. The prime sponsor and labor testifiers said the bill would add needed clarity and accountability for major tax investments supporting aerospace jobs. A committee question raised whether JLARC would be directed to make recommendations for improving the incentive, and staff and the sponsor said the bill does not specifically require that. HB 2713 would impose a 1% B&O tax surcharge, beginning July 1, 2026, on operators of private detention facilities with more than $1 million in annual Washington gross receipts. The sponsor said the bill is intended to respond to harms associated with private detention and to help fund services and legal support for affected families and communities. A remote testifier urged a much higher surtax on GEO Group, which operates the Northwest Detention Center, while county representatives testified that the bill as written could unintentionally apply to Martin Hall, a juvenile facility in Spokane County that is publicly governed and operated day-to-day by a nonprofit contractor. They asked for an exemption for Martin Hall, and the sponsor said that inclusion of nonprofits was not intended and that she would work with them on amendments. No votes were taken on either bill. The committee closed testimony on HB 2730 and HB 2713 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...and other in-person enumeration operations, self-response to the census produces higher-quality
• enumeration operations, self-response to the census produces higher quality data.
• In 2020, there were a range of operational challenges with group quarters operations that mattered for
• So that creates some important, I think, operational risks for 2030.
• They reflect operational information. They do not necessarily capture the population as a whole.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The hearing focused on census data privacy, administrative data sharing, and the role of state and local governments in improving census accuracy, especially for the 2030 census. Dr. Philip Rocco testified first, arguing that the census is increasingly intergovernmental and that state and local investments in address list work, outreach, and complete count commissions can materially improve self-response and reduce undercounts. He emphasized that hard-to-count communities are most affected when states delay planning, politicize census work, or lack capacity, and he pointed to examples such as LUCA participation, outreach funding, and group quarters review as important tools. He also warned that recent federal actions and a broader climate of distrust could threaten 2030 operations, and urged Massachusetts to begin readiness planning now. Members then questioned Dr. Rocco about the use of administrative data such as DMV, TANF, SNAP, and WIC records, and about group quarters enumeration. He explained that those data-sharing efforts were voluntary agreements with the Census Bureau, unlike group quarters data, which are often provided by facility administrators and sometimes state agencies. He said the Trump-era effort to use DMV and other records was tied to Executive Order 13880 and was widely resisted because states had confidentiality and legal concerns, and because the stated purpose appeared to shift toward citizenship-related uses. On group quarters, he described e-response, paper response, in-person enumeration, and administrator-provided directory information, noting that privacy issues arise mainly from FERPA limits on university data and from missing demographic details in administrative records. A second panel, Beth Giroz and Amy O'Hara, then explained how administrative data are used by the Census Bureau and why data quality and privacy concerns matter. They described administrative data as records collected for operational purposes, useful for frame-building, nonresponse follow-up, enumeration, and post-enumeration evaluation, but often incomplete or mismatched on key census variables such as race, ethnicity, household relationships, and residence timing. They highlighted that some sources, like IRS, Medicare, USPS, SSA, and Bureau of Prisons records, are especially valuable, while others such as SNAP, TANF, WIC, Medicaid, CHIP, foster care, and driver’s license data vary in completeness and sharing. They stressed that privacy means collecting only what is needed, and that the Bureau typically uses limited header or roster data rather than full records. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee recessed briefly before continuing testimony.